Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

The Good, the Bad, and the Strange

By

Obviously these aren’t always mutually exclusive in my world.

Consultants will advise you to “sandwich” bad news.

If you have to deliver bad news or feedback, one theory is to begin with a positive, followed with the negative, then end on a positive.  A positive sandwich.  I’m not your traditional consultant – I prefer to get the bad out of the way immediately.

This bad in this post isn’t news (at least I HOPE it’s not new to anyone).  I saw this on Instagram, and I think you’ll agree this spotting method is never good: 

And now for the #strange but good. 🙂

Despite Because of my insane diet, I’ve managed a good deal of #strangebutgood recently.

 ________________________________________________________________________________

1. Airplane Protein Muesli Pudding

2 days after the trip I chronicled in yesterday’s Healthy Traveling Food post, I had to do it again.  This time I had a very early flight and brought breakfast on the plane.  A (recycled) container of muesli, protein powder, strawberries, and walnuts.

Before boarding, I asked the coffee shop for a larger glass so I could mix it up without spilling on the plane.  Once seated, I asked the flight attendant for some water to make it a pudding-like consistency.

Not too shabby… but I’m fairly certain the person next to me though I was insane. 

2. Chicken ‘n Pears

This was from before most of the fruit was cut from my diet, but I had to share because it was a very #strangebutgood breakfast!

I cubed some pre-cooked chicken and sautéed it was a diced pear in a quick sauce of low-fat coconut milk (NOT as good and the real thing), cardamom, and ground flax.  I had my doubts about this one, but it was pretty good… it would have been even better for dinner over some parsnip rice.

3. My New Brinner

This kind of goes with #2 above.  Brinner normally is breakfast for dinner.  Lately I’ve been eating dinner for breakfast.  At least that’s what it feel like when I’m eating chicken at 8am.

If you’re going to have to eat chicken at breakfast, I recommend my Cinnamon-Flax Chicken.  It almost make it like breakfast.  The roasted grapefruit on the side was fabulous, and I coated my no-sodium Ezekial toast with fantastically creamy new peanut flour combo.

Peanut Flour Spread

  • 1 T peanut flour
  • 2 T Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp butter vanilla extract (yes, this combo does exist – I found it at Home Goods)
  • 2-3 drops liquid Stevia

4. Chocolate Red Cabbage Ice Cream

The consensus last night on Instagram is that this is strange.  I can’t take credit for this strange idea though!  The Vitamix demo guy always makes a red cabbage “ice cream” when he’s at Whole Foods.  His doesn’t have protein (I think he just adds apple juice), so I’ve been making my own post-workout Chocolate Red Cabbage Ice Cream.

Once you get over the color, it’s really quite good.  You can’t taste the cabbage, and it adds a lot of volume so you feel like you’re eating a gigantic bowl of ice cream.

Chocolate Red Cabbage Ice Cream

  • 90g red cabbage (~1 C)
  • 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp Guar Gum (optional, but adds creaminess)
  • 7-8 drops liquid stevia
  • Ice + water, to taste

Place everything in your high-speed blender and mix until creamy.

Notes:

  • If your protein powder isn’t very chocolate-y, try adding some coca powder or chocolate extract
  • You could do this in a smaller blender, but you need to be sure you cabbage is cut into small piece before blending. 

5. Lee’s Cauliflower Tuna Hummus

Lee @ In My Tummy was holding me to my idea to start a #strangebutgood link up… but I’ve been so busy with work travel and training that I haven’t been able to organize it.  Being the awesome blogger she is, she agreed to share her #strangebutgood creation anyway! 

Starting with a recipe for Cauliflower Couscous as the base, Lee funk-ed it up by adding tuna and hummus.  Brilliant!!!  From Lee: “It was surprisingly good!”

Totally trying this.

***

 I really am going to do the link up.  My competition is November 3rd and I hope to get myself together after that. #thebestlaidplans

Have you had any #strangebutgood items lately?

How do you prefer to give/receive bad news/feedback?

Comments

  6. You are nothing if not creative, Laura!! This kind of proves the point that you can figure out a way to do what you need to do to make yourself successful. I always used to try to explain that to members when I was still a Weight Watchers leader. So many times, they didn’t want to put in the effort to make themselves successful. Obviously, you will. Keep up the good work!!

    • So true! I love that quote that goes something like “If it’s work it, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”

  7. Okay I definitely have to try this cabbage ice cream you speak of. Even though your combos are strange, the ones I’ve recreated aure are delicious!! 😀 Ya know, now that I think of it, I’ve actually never had cabbage, so I think it’d be an adventure to try it in ice cream form!
    Have a great weekend lady!

  8. i always do tuna and hummus, well i do hummus in everything, even peanut flour. yep, strange. Don’t you love the looks people give you when you whip out your protein on the flight? LOL!

  9. Personally, I like the sandwich method of feedback. I’m not great at giving feedback as it is, so I need all the help I can get!! Have a great weekend!

  10. Haha I saw someone comment “Strange” on your insta of the cabbage ice cream and all I could think was that she clearly hasn’t seen your past creations…strange but good all the way :)! I hate giving negative feedback so I usually start off with the positives…that seems to set a good tone for the conversation. Enjoy your weekend, Laura!

  11. I bought that butter vanilla extract too- at Marshall’s 🙂
    I think all of your strange but good combos sound great (duh). This isn’t THAT weird, but I been mixing cocoa powder, PB, puffed kamut and enough almond milk to make it “sticky” and making little “balls” to stick in the freezer. It’s gooood!

    • You can find the best stuff at these discount stores! Just have to remember to check the expiration dates…

  12. I hate bad news. I guess I’m like you if I give it I want to blurt it out then run away. Haha. Not sure I could do chicken for breakfast!!

  14. It really was good, you should try it! I just like tuna and hummus together a lot, which I guess is strange in itself.

  16. Chocolate Red Cabbage Ice Cream….It looks good and I’m sure it taste good too!

    Chicken for breakfast…Yep. I know all about that 😉

  18. I’m usually on board with trying your creations (I still have that tempeh crab cake recipe in my regular rotation), but I think I have to draw the line at the cabbage ice cream, lol

    I could ever do a figure competion. Everything about it so hard core, especially the diet. I cant wait to hear how it goes, I think you’re going to do great.

    • Come on, now… it’s not THAT weird. 😉

      You could totally do it! You are so disciplined with your running already!

  19. I rather have the bad new first too – rip it off fast like a band-aid then get on with the solutions/ plans.

    I can’t wait to try the chicken recipe. Chicken isn’t my favorite – I do prefer it to red meat though. Can’t wait to liven up that dry piece a poultry with your recipe.

    I’ve been getting really excited monitoring your competition progress!! I know I haven’t been around much but I’ve been sending virtual support everyday!! Only one more week!

    Have a great weekend!

    • Thank you!!!

      I’m not huge on red meat, but I’m going to want it after this chicken/seafood overload! 🙂

  20. I think it is better to do the bad news first and then the good news after. They say that if you are trying to let someone know that something bad has happened and you give them the good news first, it makes them feel like you don’t think they can handle it. Kind of like when you ask for a favor? Just say what you need and then start the small talk. Don’t ask how they like the weather AND THEN ask them to finish a report, do it the other way around.

    Anyways, strange but good….chickpeas, shredded chicken, celery and jalapeño mixed up with a tad bit of olive oil and pepper. Great for eating with veggies or crackers. It is my new lunch this week.

    So excited for you about the competition. It is coming up so soon! 🙂

    • I totally agree with you. It’s like you freak them out and then try to calm them down at the end. Like assuring them they aren’t about to get canned. LOL!

  21. I make some killer sweet n’ sour red cabbage, so I can definitely see taking the next step and just going sweet. Sneaky way to get some veggies…And pfft, I have no tact. Bad news? I’ll just state it.

  22. There is a Mexican ice cream shop that makes corn and red bean ice creams and they are DELICIOUS. I want to make this cabbage ice cream…stat. I cannot imagine how this all works but I’m willing to give it a try. 🙂

  23. You do come up with some creative concoctions, I must say…but I think those are always THE BEST! i mean even at work people think my pumpkin in my oatbran with greek yogurt and peanut butter is INSANE..and I’m like, really? do you not know the OTHER things I come up with?! Ha. Great job on being so committed – it’s admirbale. you are SO CLOSE to competition and you are going to rock it!!

    for me, strange but good, lately? can’t really think of anything. I can be so boring sometimes!

    • Isn’t it funny that what’s “normal” in the blog world is so bizarre to other people? I forget that my normal is still weird. LOL!

  25. That cauliflower tuna hummus looks amazing. I love #strangebutgood meals and often make them when I find myself craving a bunch of different things at once. I’ve also brought some strange items to eat on planes before and get a little bit embarrassed when the person next to me not-so-descretely looks on as I eat it. Hahah oh well, better than grabbing a crap load of candy at the airport!

    • It’s funny… I find myself giving people in the airport strange looks when they are buying nasty pizza or ice cream bards form the vending machine.

  27. Definitely intrigued by the cabbage ice cream…I really like sweet red cabbage dishes so I could see how it could work! And I love pork and pears (or apples) together…though I’ve never thought to have it for breakfast. Now I really want to try the cinnamon chicken! I’ve been craving a lot of savory/sweet meals lately. Breakfast this morning: oats topped with roasted garlic cheddar, diced apple, and sprinkled with celery seed…’twas delicious! 😉

    Gimme the bad news first and get it over with…but PLEASE give me some REAL good news to follow!

    • I’m still intrigued my your curds and oats. Cheese is good on anything – especially cheddar with apple. You amaze me.

  28. NOVEMBER 3rd OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I am seriously so proud of you!!!! You are such a rockstar. Some of these strange but goods really caught my attention- especially the chicken and pear dish! That sounds so yummy! As always I’m in awe of your creativity.

    • I saw that! Totally drool-worthy. I didn’t think it was too strange (definitely good!)… but I’m sure “normal” people would. 😉

  30. I don’t think my strange can compare to yours… 🙂 We had leftover pumpkin and tofu, which became a delicious custard last night with a little maple syrup. I’m not sure what to think about that cabbage ice cream. I think I need you to make it for me, without telling me what’s in it, and I’d love it.

  31. Bahaha that picture is just awesome. I would die laughing if I saw that at the gym, but also be excited that I captured something so epic. Okay, so curious over the red cabbage ice cream! I just can’t imagine adding cabbage, but I also like weird things so I bet I’d actually like it. Cabbage can make my stomach hurt though. And I think pear and chicken could be a good combo! Not sure about cooked pear still…since I’m such a hater over cooked apple and they are similar-ish in texture. I like pumpkin hummus, that stuff is pretty good, but people think its weird!

    • Cabbage can do the same for me – I don’t have a ton of it at once or I get really bloated/gassy (TMI?).

  32. Wow, that cauliflower couscous sounds so good! I love it! I’m a bad news over with and get to the good news kind of gal. My eats are so boring as of late. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t created anything new lately. I’m enjoying the boring for a bit for now though!

    Have a great weekend my friend!

    • Doesn’t it? I can’t wait to try it out!

      Boring can be good. This colder weather just makes me want comfort.

  38. I had to eat lunch while on the road yesterday and you popped into my mind b/c I know you travel and have a strict diet at the moment – I was wondering how you did it. Now I know!

    The chicken and pear – while not an ideal breakfast for me – sounds like a great lunch or dinner.

    How do you get the food on the plane? I thought it wan’t allowed in the States anymore?

    • I would love to eat lunch on the road in France… I’d probably just eat bread and wine. 😉

      Food is totally fine – the only restriction is more than 3oz of liquids.

  42. I wouldn’t mind a trainer who spotted me like that… (bow chica-bow-wow). Of course, he would have to be a hottie. And peanut flour goes GREAT with Greek yogurt. I call it a peanut mousse. I use a whole container of Chobani (or any brand) plain yogurt, and I add like 2 heaping TBS of PF with some stevia and maple syrup. And I usually top it with something crunchy. Pecans or a nutty Kashi crunch cereal are the jam. Strange but good…nothing comes to mind unfortunately. Bad news? I want it to be delivered directly. Not sugar coated. I don’t want to hear the whole: “Are you sitting down?” or “It’s not as bad as it sounds, but…” Just tell me. I’m a straight shooter. So shoot it straight with me! =)

  43. I’ve always known that as the “compliment sandwich”, and it’s always made me giggle. It was often how I’d mark student essays when I was teaching undergrads, but sometimes I wished I could simply write “YOU FAIL AT GRAMMAR AND CLEARLY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION AND YOU MAKE ME WANT TO CRY”.

    Ahem.

    Cabbage ice cream? Bahahahah!

Trackbacks

  1. […] community would think is strange.  This could be something like my Vegan PB & Zeggs, or this Chocolate Protein Red Cabbage Ice Cream many of you thought was […]

Follow Me!

instagram_b facebook_b twitter_bpinterest_b
rss_a email_ayoutube_b googlep_b

Popular Posts

Home | About Me | Privacy Policy | Fitness | Recipes | Training & Nutrition

Affiliate Links: This site is monetized through the use of affiliate links. This means that if you were to make a purchase through one of these links, Sprint 2 the Table would receive a small percentage of the sale price. Thanks for your support!